HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pa. Inspector General Albert H. Masland today announced that felony welfare-fraud charges have been filed against two Montgomery County residents. The two individuals, in unrelated incidents, allegedly collected a total of more than $10,250 in public- assistance benefits to which they were not entitled.
"Individuals who deliberately try to defraud the system will inevitably be caught and punished," Masland said. "It is the Office of Inspector General's duty to maintain the integrity of public-assistance programs. Once again, I thank Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor for his help in bringing these cases to prosecution."
Claims Investigation Agent Charles G. Draus from the Office of Inspector General's (OIG) Central Region Office filed the charges against the Montgomery County residents.
The individuals against whom charges were filed are listed below: -- Arthur Freedman, 56, of Haverford is accused of unlawfully receiving more than $5,400 in cash assistance and food-stamp benefits to which he was not eligible at various times from April 2000 to October 2001. Freedman allegedly failed to report his employment and wages from Robert Half of Pennsylvania, which would have affected his eligibility for public assistance; and -- Raymond Reddick, 55, of Pottstown is accused of unlawfully collecting more than $4,850 in cash assistance and food-stamp benefits to which he was not entitled at various times from April 1999 to August 2000. Reddick allegedly failed to report his Veterans Administration benefits, information that would have impacted his eligibility for welfare benefits.
Preliminary hearings for both of these cases will be scheduled at a later date before District Justice Robert A. Saraceni.
Recipients who are found guilty of welfare fraud may face a maximum sentence of seven years in prison, fines up to $15,000, mandatory restitution to the Commonwealth and program disqualification. The OIG is responsible for investigating welfare fraud and conducting collection activities for programs administered by the Department of Public Welfare.
Each year, the OIG works with county assistance offices statewide to identify suspected cases of welfare fraud and with local district attorneys to bring the cases to prosecution. Learn more about the OIG on the Internet at http://www.state.pa.us/, PA Keyword: "Inspector General."
The Office of Inspector General also relies on tips from citizens. Inspector General Masland urges anyone with information on suspected fraud to call the Welfare Fraud TipLine at 1-800-932-0582, or e-mail the OIG at pafraud@state.pa.us.
CONTACT: Amy Wasserleben of the Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General, +1-717-705-4632.
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Contact: Amy Wasserleben of the Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General, +1-717-705-4632
Website: http://www.state.pa.us/
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